3 calls of people in distress in Hudson River in 2 days

The Hoboken Fire Department's Marine Unit responded to another call of a person in distress in the Hudson River Wednesday night, the third such call since Tuesday, and fire officials said that is a lot for a two-day period.

On Tuesday at about 11:20 a.m. the Hoboken Fire Department was dispatched to Pier A Park located at the foot of First Street following a 911 call of someone in distress in the river. Firefighters responded with their 33-foot boat, Marine 1, and hauled the man out of the water, said Hoboken Fire Department Capt. Michael Stefano yesterday.

The man was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, said Stefano, adding that he did not know how the man wound up in the river.

Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. Marine 1 responded to the waters off 14th Street on a report of a man in the water but police arrived at the scene first and found the man sitting on the rocks under Pier 14. The officers threw down a rope and he was able to climb up to safety, officials said.

Once on dry land, the man told police he had been approached by a group of about 10 juveniles who asked him for money and then picked him up and threw him into the river. He had no apparent injuries and refused medical attention, officials said.

Wednesday night at 8 p.m., Marine 1 responded to the waters off 15th Street following another 911 call of a person in distress in the river. Police also responded to the area and found the person on the street. He admitted to having been in the water, Stefano said, adding that he did not know why the man was in the water or if he was taken to a hospital.

A 27-year-old woman taking in the sun on a bench near Pier 13 yesterday afternoon said, "I feel safe here all the time, even when it's dark."A dog walker minding two pets in the dog run at Pier 13 also said she "always feel safe here. I'm here all day, even late at night."

Hoboken's Marine 1 is equipped with radar, sonar and roof-mounted forward-looking infrared which can locate a person in the water in the dark based on body heat. It is also equipped with firefighting and rescue gear, said Stefano, who oversees the department's marine operations.